Connections are good!
Sorry to have not posted so much here recently, but since the convention I have had precious little time to collect my thoughts and present them here.
I was swamped with three work situations coming to an end all at the same time, thus needing video work to be processed as fast as possible (eating all my processor time and making sitting at the computer typing in more words less appealing).
The next week was spring break and we had 4 extra young people around all the time, though it was fun connecting with them and challenging some new minds.
Finally this week started with surgery for my wife and I was left doing double-parenting for a few days while she recovered, adding to that was a need to do a book display with her that was not noted to me earlier and so we were rather rushed in getting it all together and hauled out on the morning in question.
Enough excuses, that is now done.
I have been contacted by Dennis, whom did the A.C.W. game at Salute (see pics below) and since he may have time to get away this summer we may finally have him guest host at my game table! YAYYY!
I shall have an opportunity to showcase another keen miniature gamer to the other gamers here and perhaps challenge their contention that I am just a lone nutcase!
Anyway the snowfields are all cleaned now (and I have a pile that looks like a zamboni just tossed it out from the arena) and the troops are all re-flocked for summer pattern. From all that action only 4 mounted troops are damaged, 3 of them commanders (one was damaged during painting so came as no surprise when the join gave way). There were no infantry units damaged! 4 of the 'disorder' markers are also in need of repair and are sitting now on the painting table awaiting my attentions.
Sadly they will need to wait at least another week...sigh.
I still have company taxes to process and then a new computer system to get organized along with re-designing my offices so that my eldest son gets to share the desktop.
Wheee!
In two weeks I will be SOOOO ready to get back to casting and painting projects!
Friday, March 30, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
SALUTE Convention 2007
I was at the sunday games that were part of the 2007 incarnation of the Trumpeter Gaming Society convention known as SALUTE.
Saturday is normally the 'big day' at these events, but as I understand Friday had a very active and well done PRIATES game that managed to win the best of show award and will 'represent' SALUTE at ENFILADE in Washington State coming in June(? = not sure of the dates).
Anyway I was pleased to be able to game with Dennis Chin, an avid Civil War buff and keen gamer. We teamed up to emote the actions of the Confederates during the battle of MacPhereson's Ridge; a part of the opening moves from Gettysburg.
We did not loose the battle, as was the historic case, we also did not outright win.
At best it was a draw, with the the Union Iron Brigade coming away unbloodied and holding a vital forested area on the important ridgeline.
The rest of the days' games included another Pirate run; hosted by Gord Colter.
A Lord of the Rings "Legends of the West" game in 25mm, hosted by the best of show winners the North Shore Gamers.
A gigantic seige game of Warmaster (10mm minis) that started on Friday of the Convention and only ended about 20 minutes before the Civil War game I was in ended...the castle defenders managed to hold on, with two breaches in the wall! Hosted by Adrian.
A aerial Dragon combat game, with clouds and gold nuggets; hosted by Lisa Smedman.
There were also a number of commercial sellers and another room that was filled with 25mm Warhammer (not sure if 40K or Fantasy, but 20+ gamers busy in three rows of tables.
All-in-all a good day of game!
I was at the sunday games that were part of the 2007 incarnation of the Trumpeter Gaming Society convention known as SALUTE.
Saturday is normally the 'big day' at these events, but as I understand Friday had a very active and well done PRIATES game that managed to win the best of show award and will 'represent' SALUTE at ENFILADE in Washington State coming in June(? = not sure of the dates).
Anyway I was pleased to be able to game with Dennis Chin, an avid Civil War buff and keen gamer. We teamed up to emote the actions of the Confederates during the battle of MacPhereson's Ridge; a part of the opening moves from Gettysburg.
We did not loose the battle, as was the historic case, we also did not outright win.
At best it was a draw, with the the Union Iron Brigade coming away unbloodied and holding a vital forested area on the important ridgeline.
The rest of the days' games included another Pirate run; hosted by Gord Colter.
A Lord of the Rings "Legends of the West" game in 25mm, hosted by the best of show winners the North Shore Gamers.
A gigantic seige game of Warmaster (10mm minis) that started on Friday of the Convention and only ended about 20 minutes before the Civil War game I was in ended...the castle defenders managed to hold on, with two breaches in the wall! Hosted by Adrian.
A aerial Dragon combat game, with clouds and gold nuggets; hosted by Lisa Smedman.
There were also a number of commercial sellers and another room that was filled with 25mm Warhammer (not sure if 40K or Fantasy, but 20+ gamers busy in three rows of tables.
All-in-all a good day of game!
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Just some more bravado.
I promise to not put more of this on the blog (other than the special effects methods).
The award for BEST PRESENTATION at Dak-Kon XII : BADLANDS 2007
I want to thank all the players that have come to the table in the past 6 months in preparation for this game. Most notably Jeff, Pete and Alex!
I promise to not put more of this on the blog (other than the special effects methods).
The award for BEST PRESENTATION at Dak-Kon XII : BADLANDS 2007
I want to thank all the players that have come to the table in the past 6 months in preparation for this game. Most notably Jeff, Pete and Alex!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Success.
I had the plan to put on the best show that DakKon had ever seen for a miniatures game.
I had the plan to continue to expand my Napoleonic 25mm collection.
I had the plan to continue to play out the bicentennials of the height of the Napoleonic period (1807 has EYLAU and FRIEDLAND).
I had the plan to win the best table display for DakKon.
I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER!
While I did not get as many players as I had hoped for, I got at least enough to make it happen and one or two others whom came in and out enough to make it interesting.
I would have had a better turn out at a minis based game event like SALUTE in Vancouver, but I will take what I got here.
Essentially I was the solo miniatures act for DakKon this year, one which sported more RPG events than any before and I was very pleased to learn that Paul won the best GM award (it was his first year in a competitive environment ~ he is a good GM and the atmosphere is different when in competition).
So the tale:
Minis prep and table stuff you know, since I have blogged about it before (and sorry about taking so long to get this out on the blog, but three boys under 8 and work demands took precedence ~ oh and my wife's parents decided to visit the week before, leaving on the Saturday of the event ~ more stress I did not need).
The table set-up, went inside the time as planned, my difficulty was in not having an assistant whom could be out beating the bush for getting the starting players.
It took a lot more time than I had anticipated to get the players, then it was time to get them organized and understanding the Order Of Battle ~ so that they would know what they were working with.
Orders writing actually took less time than in past playtests, since my new play aids worked to perfection and had the players understanding the troops under their command faster and easier than in the past.
There were takers for the French and La Grande Armee, but no interest in the Russian commands. I had to turn to a convention runner to 'write' the Russian plans (essentially position the troops ~ since moving seemed a bad idea with the French having at least 2 flank forces out there...).
Troops went onto the table in exactly the same time as the playtest and from there the turns went really quite fast.
The only delays came during the planned 'breaks' when I pulled out my dry ice and did the 'special effects' that wowed the crowd.
Ok, so on to the pics:
A long view of the field from the French Left, Russian Right.
Here (seen in the foreground) a formation of French Hussars (in blue) did yeomans duty in breaking up Russian counter attacks and managed to not only chase away two groups of Russian Dragoons and a battery of foot artillery but was still on the table to join in a Grand Charge organized by Murat some 10 turns later!
Murat and his ADC had sent off two formations of Chasseurs and One of Hussars to thier doom at the top of the hill on the Russian center right. Not one unit came back and neither of the Russian Squares had been broken either. The Imperial Guard artillery was then directed to begin blasting these squares, too little too late though as the Russians were leading by a score of 6 to 1 once the French Cavalry Reserve had a chance to get re-organized on the French Left. While on the French Right and Center Soult had begun to surge forward, into Russian Guns which managed to destroy all of 2eme Division of IV Corps. While new orders were drafted for Augerau and VII Corps was sent hard into the Russian Left Center (at the angle in the town of Serpalten).
In the Center, the Russians directed mortar fire into the Guard Grenadiers inside the city of Eylau, setting the city on fire, which managed to force the Guard out into the open. Then the Guard was subjected to concentrated artillery fire from 3 Foot and 2 Horse batteries. Even under this withering fire coming in for nearly 90 minutes, before a greater blizzard blinded all guns, the Guard did remain on the field, though battered and retired back alongside the burning Eylau, using the buildings for cover.
General Grouchy was pressed into service as the Reserve Cavalry force commander as early on General Lasalle was put out of action during the first advance of the cavalry on the French Left. Here he is seen leading the return of the Cavalry, just moments before Murat marshalled the cavalry into a Grand Charge!
Battered Cavalry press-on across the French Center, in response to the call from Murat, and the Grand Charge was going to cross the center (under the cover of the hills from the fire of Russian guns) of the field to try and exploit the collapse at the left-center of the Russian lines.
Here along the French Right, before the arrival of Davout, as the French needed to hang on at all costs and not loose one more unit ~ otherwise the Duc d'Auerstadt & Marshal du Fer would only be arriving to see the entire French Army in retreat and provide the rear-guard.
The game was played out and hard-faught from 11 am Saturday 24 Feb, (first die rolls for artillery) till 1 am 25 Feb.
Score at end time was Russia = 14 : France = 6. Davout had arrived and was looking to deploy into the French Right. The Russian Left, under Count Tolstoy, had not yet been used and so was ready to react and press home into the fresh French troops...
It would have been great to have reversed history, but the outcome was not clear at the time we ended...one thing was certain the death toll was very, very high as this shot of the battlefield at the end amply demonstrates.
One other shutter-bug claims to have filled his camera's memory card (for the first time ever!), his latest email came in today says that he has 250 images from the event, and I managed to max out one of my computer drive partitions with all the images from the two digital cameras I had going and I have not yet reviewed the entire video that I have from the event.
The special effects were what put this game 'over the top' for the display purpose and it was loads of fun, and work, to put it all on!
I had the plan to put on the best show that DakKon had ever seen for a miniatures game.
I had the plan to continue to expand my Napoleonic 25mm collection.
I had the plan to continue to play out the bicentennials of the height of the Napoleonic period (1807 has EYLAU and FRIEDLAND).
I had the plan to win the best table display for DakKon.
I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER!
While I did not get as many players as I had hoped for, I got at least enough to make it happen and one or two others whom came in and out enough to make it interesting.
I would have had a better turn out at a minis based game event like SALUTE in Vancouver, but I will take what I got here.
Essentially I was the solo miniatures act for DakKon this year, one which sported more RPG events than any before and I was very pleased to learn that Paul won the best GM award (it was his first year in a competitive environment ~ he is a good GM and the atmosphere is different when in competition).
So the tale:
Minis prep and table stuff you know, since I have blogged about it before (and sorry about taking so long to get this out on the blog, but three boys under 8 and work demands took precedence ~ oh and my wife's parents decided to visit the week before, leaving on the Saturday of the event ~ more stress I did not need).
The table set-up, went inside the time as planned, my difficulty was in not having an assistant whom could be out beating the bush for getting the starting players.
It took a lot more time than I had anticipated to get the players, then it was time to get them organized and understanding the Order Of Battle ~ so that they would know what they were working with.
Orders writing actually took less time than in past playtests, since my new play aids worked to perfection and had the players understanding the troops under their command faster and easier than in the past.
There were takers for the French and La Grande Armee, but no interest in the Russian commands. I had to turn to a convention runner to 'write' the Russian plans (essentially position the troops ~ since moving seemed a bad idea with the French having at least 2 flank forces out there...).
Troops went onto the table in exactly the same time as the playtest and from there the turns went really quite fast.
The only delays came during the planned 'breaks' when I pulled out my dry ice and did the 'special effects' that wowed the crowd.
Ok, so on to the pics:
A long view of the field from the French Left, Russian Right.
Here (seen in the foreground) a formation of French Hussars (in blue) did yeomans duty in breaking up Russian counter attacks and managed to not only chase away two groups of Russian Dragoons and a battery of foot artillery but was still on the table to join in a Grand Charge organized by Murat some 10 turns later!
Murat and his ADC had sent off two formations of Chasseurs and One of Hussars to thier doom at the top of the hill on the Russian center right. Not one unit came back and neither of the Russian Squares had been broken either. The Imperial Guard artillery was then directed to begin blasting these squares, too little too late though as the Russians were leading by a score of 6 to 1 once the French Cavalry Reserve had a chance to get re-organized on the French Left. While on the French Right and Center Soult had begun to surge forward, into Russian Guns which managed to destroy all of 2eme Division of IV Corps. While new orders were drafted for Augerau and VII Corps was sent hard into the Russian Left Center (at the angle in the town of Serpalten).
In the Center, the Russians directed mortar fire into the Guard Grenadiers inside the city of Eylau, setting the city on fire, which managed to force the Guard out into the open. Then the Guard was subjected to concentrated artillery fire from 3 Foot and 2 Horse batteries. Even under this withering fire coming in for nearly 90 minutes, before a greater blizzard blinded all guns, the Guard did remain on the field, though battered and retired back alongside the burning Eylau, using the buildings for cover.
General Grouchy was pressed into service as the Reserve Cavalry force commander as early on General Lasalle was put out of action during the first advance of the cavalry on the French Left. Here he is seen leading the return of the Cavalry, just moments before Murat marshalled the cavalry into a Grand Charge!
Battered Cavalry press-on across the French Center, in response to the call from Murat, and the Grand Charge was going to cross the center (under the cover of the hills from the fire of Russian guns) of the field to try and exploit the collapse at the left-center of the Russian lines.
Here along the French Right, before the arrival of Davout, as the French needed to hang on at all costs and not loose one more unit ~ otherwise the Duc d'Auerstadt & Marshal du Fer would only be arriving to see the entire French Army in retreat and provide the rear-guard.
The game was played out and hard-faught from 11 am Saturday 24 Feb, (first die rolls for artillery) till 1 am 25 Feb.
Score at end time was Russia = 14 : France = 6. Davout had arrived and was looking to deploy into the French Right. The Russian Left, under Count Tolstoy, had not yet been used and so was ready to react and press home into the fresh French troops...
It would have been great to have reversed history, but the outcome was not clear at the time we ended...one thing was certain the death toll was very, very high as this shot of the battlefield at the end amply demonstrates.
One other shutter-bug claims to have filled his camera's memory card (for the first time ever!), his latest email came in today says that he has 250 images from the event, and I managed to max out one of my computer drive partitions with all the images from the two digital cameras I had going and I have not yet reviewed the entire video that I have from the event.
The special effects were what put this game 'over the top' for the display purpose and it was loads of fun, and work, to put it all on!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Amendment and examples:
The amendment is the addition of light artillery battery being supplied by every Province (lesser or greater) that is not the Capitol Region (and thus providing the Ordonnance of Heavy or Medium artillery battery(ies).
Example, at start each player has one Greater and Two Lesser Provinces:
Capitol: 2 Medium batteries, Guard (or Elite - to start might be better) Cavalry (players choice of Heavy or 'other') and Guard (or Elite - to start might be better) Infantry (probably Grenadiers). The Capitol is also a Fortification.
Greater Province: 1 Heavy Cavalry, 2 'other' Cavalry, 1 Line Infantry, 1 Light Infantry = the Capitol is selected to be in the Greater Province and so no other artillery will be coming from here.
Lesser Province1 : 2 'other' Cavalry, 2 Line Infantry, and 1 Light Gun
Lesser Province2 : 1 'other' Cavalry, 2 Line Infantry, 1 Light Infantry and 1 Light Gun.
Giving a final force composition (for parade in the Fortification in the Capitol):
Guard Heavy Cavalry
Heavy Cavalry
5 'other' Cavalry
Guard Infantry
5 Line Infantry
2 Light Infantry
2 Medium Batteries
2 Light Batteries
Other possible combinations:
Guard Heavy Cavalry
2 Heavy Cavalry
4 'other' Cavalry
Guard Infantry
6 Line Infantry
1 Heavy Battery
2 Light Batteries
-or-
Guard Heavy Cavalry
5 'other' Cavalry
Guard Infantry
6 Line Infantry
3 Light Infantry
2 Medium Batteries
2 Light Batteries
by looking at the charts in the first posting other combinations can be found...
The amendment is the addition of light artillery battery being supplied by every Province (lesser or greater) that is not the Capitol Region (and thus providing the Ordonnance of Heavy or Medium artillery battery(ies).
Example, at start each player has one Greater and Two Lesser Provinces:
Capitol: 2 Medium batteries, Guard (or Elite - to start might be better) Cavalry (players choice of Heavy or 'other') and Guard (or Elite - to start might be better) Infantry (probably Grenadiers). The Capitol is also a Fortification.
Greater Province: 1 Heavy Cavalry, 2 'other' Cavalry, 1 Line Infantry, 1 Light Infantry = the Capitol is selected to be in the Greater Province and so no other artillery will be coming from here.
Lesser Province1 : 2 'other' Cavalry, 2 Line Infantry, and 1 Light Gun
Lesser Province2 : 1 'other' Cavalry, 2 Line Infantry, 1 Light Infantry and 1 Light Gun.
Giving a final force composition (for parade in the Fortification in the Capitol):
Guard Heavy Cavalry
Heavy Cavalry
5 'other' Cavalry
Guard Infantry
5 Line Infantry
2 Light Infantry
2 Medium Batteries
2 Light Batteries
Other possible combinations:
Guard Heavy Cavalry
2 Heavy Cavalry
4 'other' Cavalry
Guard Infantry
6 Line Infantry
1 Heavy Battery
2 Light Batteries
-or-
Guard Heavy Cavalry
5 'other' Cavalry
Guard Infantry
6 Line Infantry
3 Light Infantry
2 Medium Batteries
2 Light Batteries
by looking at the charts in the first posting other combinations can be found...
Friday, February 16, 2007
Wars for Arcadian Glory
(or some such thing)
Jeff, of Saxe-Bearstein, has coined the phrase Wars for Arcadian Glory as the name of a campaign of 17-18th century fictional Duchies, Princedoms, city and nation-states.
In connection with this plan I have been thinking about the consistency of the field armies and the territories of the player-controlled lands & peoples.
Since the concept is to have a non-map or abstracted country I need to define a few terms.
Capitol = Obviously every ruler needs a seat of power, such a place would be a cross-roads for supply and social center; providing logistical support and control for the army.
Greater Province = A developed region capable of greater support for war efforts.
Lesser Province = A somewhat developed region that has been under the administration of the Duchy for more than 2 year (or more or less to be determined by the time of the campaign start).
New Territory / Marche Land / Undeveloped Province = A set of lands new to the Duchy, either recently captured or ceeded from another player or 'discovered' thru exploration (such as was done with India, or parts of Africa, or the Spice Islands, or Colonies).
The other premise was regarding the field army and the size elements of that army, for instance I had thought the campaign should start with a field army of 50% of the maximum optimal size of the field army. I say optimal size since capture of the territory of other players should include the ability to press troops into service from those new lands.
For sake of argument I begin the discussion with a definition of Capitol regions giving 10%, Greater Provinces 20% and Lesser ones 10% of the overall field army strength. New lands only give 5%.
In definitive terms, I have tried to set-out what the field army should look like.
Basing my starting point on the one proposed earlier by Jeff:
2 x Medium Batteries
4 Heavy Cavalry (one Guard)
2 Cavalry
2 Light Horse
1 guard Infantry
8 line Infantry
3 jagers (light skirmish Infantry)
To set the regions contributions:
Capitol: permits 1 each of cavalry and infantry as Guard Class units. Produces artillery either 1 heavy or 2 medium batteries. The capitol is also a fortification...in case we use such things in the planned game.
Greater Provinces: produces 1 each of Heavy Cavalry, Cavalry, Light Cavalry, Line Infantry, Light (or skirmish) Infantry; or 2 Heavy Cavalry, 2 Line Infantry; or 2 Cavalry, 1 Light Cavalry, 2 Line Infantry; or 1 Cavalry, 2 Light Cavalry, 2 Line Infantry, 1 Light Infantry; or 3 Light Cavalry, 1 Line Infantry and 1 Light Infantry.
Lesser Provinces: produces 1 each of Cavalry, Light Cavalry, Line Infantry, Light Infantry; or 2 Cavalry, 2 Line Infantry; or 2 Light Cavalry, 2 Line Infantry; or 1 Light Cavalry, 2 Line Infantry, and 1 Light Infantry.
New Territory: produces 1 Light Cavalry, 1 Line Infantry; or 2 Light Cavalry; or 2 Line Infantry; or 2 Light Infantry; or 1 Line Infantry and 1 Light Infantry.
This way each player, having a Capitol, Greater and 2 Lesser Provinces at the start of the game will have a number of options to establish a character to their field armies.
Whis is needed is to determine how long or under what circumstances a New Territory becomes a Lesser Province and similarly how a Lesser becomes a Greater Province, each 'improvement' then allowing for a larger field army. Another point of discussion will be the connection of new lands (not conquered). Possibly also will be the 'garrison needs' for each province/territory.
(or some such thing)
Jeff, of Saxe-Bearstein, has coined the phrase Wars for Arcadian Glory as the name of a campaign of 17-18th century fictional Duchies, Princedoms, city and nation-states.
In connection with this plan I have been thinking about the consistency of the field armies and the territories of the player-controlled lands & peoples.
Since the concept is to have a non-map or abstracted country I need to define a few terms.
Capitol = Obviously every ruler needs a seat of power, such a place would be a cross-roads for supply and social center; providing logistical support and control for the army.
Greater Province = A developed region capable of greater support for war efforts.
Lesser Province = A somewhat developed region that has been under the administration of the Duchy for more than 2 year (or more or less to be determined by the time of the campaign start).
New Territory / Marche Land / Undeveloped Province = A set of lands new to the Duchy, either recently captured or ceeded from another player or 'discovered' thru exploration (such as was done with India, or parts of Africa, or the Spice Islands, or Colonies).
The other premise was regarding the field army and the size elements of that army, for instance I had thought the campaign should start with a field army of 50% of the maximum optimal size of the field army. I say optimal size since capture of the territory of other players should include the ability to press troops into service from those new lands.
For sake of argument I begin the discussion with a definition of Capitol regions giving 10%, Greater Provinces 20% and Lesser ones 10% of the overall field army strength. New lands only give 5%.
In definitive terms, I have tried to set-out what the field army should look like.
Basing my starting point on the one proposed earlier by Jeff:
2 x Medium Batteries
4 Heavy Cavalry (one Guard)
2 Cavalry
2 Light Horse
1 guard Infantry
8 line Infantry
3 jagers (light skirmish Infantry)
To set the regions contributions:
Capitol: permits 1 each of cavalry and infantry as Guard Class units. Produces artillery either 1 heavy or 2 medium batteries. The capitol is also a fortification...in case we use such things in the planned game.
Greater Provinces: produces 1 each of Heavy Cavalry, Cavalry, Light Cavalry, Line Infantry, Light (or skirmish) Infantry; or 2 Heavy Cavalry, 2 Line Infantry; or 2 Cavalry, 1 Light Cavalry, 2 Line Infantry; or 1 Cavalry, 2 Light Cavalry, 2 Line Infantry, 1 Light Infantry; or 3 Light Cavalry, 1 Line Infantry and 1 Light Infantry.
Lesser Provinces: produces 1 each of Cavalry, Light Cavalry, Line Infantry, Light Infantry; or 2 Cavalry, 2 Line Infantry; or 2 Light Cavalry, 2 Line Infantry; or 1 Light Cavalry, 2 Line Infantry, and 1 Light Infantry.
New Territory: produces 1 Light Cavalry, 1 Line Infantry; or 2 Light Cavalry; or 2 Line Infantry; or 2 Light Infantry; or 1 Line Infantry and 1 Light Infantry.
This way each player, having a Capitol, Greater and 2 Lesser Provinces at the start of the game will have a number of options to establish a character to their field armies.
Whis is needed is to determine how long or under what circumstances a New Territory becomes a Lesser Province and similarly how a Lesser becomes a Greater Province, each 'improvement' then allowing for a larger field army. Another point of discussion will be the connection of new lands (not conquered). Possibly also will be the 'garrison needs' for each province/territory.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Imperial Guard Blasted!
From playtest #2, I got to have three 'free shots' at the Imperial Guard!
Taking out 1/2 of the needed kills to send the Grenadiers and 2/3 of the needed Chassers a Pied to send them off the field!
Then close combat began and I handed over a battery to the Chasseurs and was certain to watch the better part of the Russian Right Wing evaporate.
Mercifully for the right wing, the game was called due to time constraints...but the action coming for the Dak-Kon convention promises to be very HOT indeed!
Dak-Kon convention information:
Dak-Kon XII : BADLANDS
The second play test has shown needed 'starter' player information, about army formations - like Corps, Division, Brigade and Battalions need to be defined along with their inter-relations, as well as the "Allied" versions of the same, Wings, Divisions, Inspections, Regiments and Battalions.
I also need to try and create a 1-page SHAKO 'starter' info sheet for those whom have never played a minis game, let alone one with 1000's of troops on the table.
Does anyone know of an online primer for these things (that I could 'nab' so as to save my typing time)?
I shall also have a one page summary of the events leading up to the battle in a blizzard...EYLAU!
From playtest #2, I got to have three 'free shots' at the Imperial Guard!
Taking out 1/2 of the needed kills to send the Grenadiers and 2/3 of the needed Chassers a Pied to send them off the field!
Then close combat began and I handed over a battery to the Chasseurs and was certain to watch the better part of the Russian Right Wing evaporate.
Mercifully for the right wing, the game was called due to time constraints...but the action coming for the Dak-Kon convention promises to be very HOT indeed!
Dak-Kon convention information:
Dak-Kon XII : BADLANDS
The second play test has shown needed 'starter' player information, about army formations - like Corps, Division, Brigade and Battalions need to be defined along with their inter-relations, as well as the "Allied" versions of the same, Wings, Divisions, Inspections, Regiments and Battalions.
I also need to try and create a 1-page SHAKO 'starter' info sheet for those whom have never played a minis game, let alone one with 1000's of troops on the table.
Does anyone know of an online primer for these things (that I could 'nab' so as to save my typing time)?
I shall also have a one page summary of the events leading up to the battle in a blizzard...EYLAU!
Sunday, February 11, 2007
More from Playtest #2 Day 1
The Prussians and Russians also got the feature treatment and their shots were of no less caliber!
All these pics were done with my wife's new camera (gift from her mom & dad = so that the grandchildren's pics would go to them often), I have only had this one opportunity to put the camera to use, and it has some great macro functions.
As these really close-up pictures should attest to!
These shots include:
Benningsen (or the mini I am using for him).
Bagration (again, just the mini planned).
Lestocq.
A Prussian Division Commander
Russian Artillery.
Pavlov Grenadiers.
and just for Jeff....
A Prussian unit (pressed into service for the Russians) wearing TRICORNES!
Tell me what you think of the effects?
The Prussians and Russians also got the feature treatment and their shots were of no less caliber!
All these pics were done with my wife's new camera (gift from her mom & dad = so that the grandchildren's pics would go to them often), I have only had this one opportunity to put the camera to use, and it has some great macro functions.
As these really close-up pictures should attest to!
These shots include:
Benningsen (or the mini I am using for him).
Bagration (again, just the mini planned).
Lestocq.
A Prussian Division Commander
Russian Artillery.
Pavlov Grenadiers.
and just for Jeff....
A Prussian unit (pressed into service for the Russians) wearing TRICORNES!
Tell me what you think of the effects?
Playtest #2 Day 1
WOW what a busy day!
With both tables set up I finnaly got to see what all my terrain efforts looked like fully assembled.
The general Snow effect is going to work out...not as well as I had hoped, but in general it should be good. Especially once I add the extra layer of thick and thin snow fall (only to be done at the actual event, otherwise I am wasting my materials).
After full setup I was then busied with unit photos.
This was when the image effects were at their best!
I am including some single shots featuring Napoleon Bonaparte (of course), Marshals Murat and Ney, a couple of artillery batteries (to show off the new base stands effects) and the French Imperial Guard Grenadiers.
WOW what a busy day!
With both tables set up I finnaly got to see what all my terrain efforts looked like fully assembled.
The general Snow effect is going to work out...not as well as I had hoped, but in general it should be good. Especially once I add the extra layer of thick and thin snow fall (only to be done at the actual event, otherwise I am wasting my materials).
After full setup I was then busied with unit photos.
This was when the image effects were at their best!
I am including some single shots featuring Napoleon Bonaparte (of course), Marshals Murat and Ney, a couple of artillery batteries (to show off the new base stands effects) and the French Imperial Guard Grenadiers.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Major work done!
The greatcoats and Guns are done!
At last the final French units and my first IMPERIAL GUARD infantry units are coming together.
By tomorrow night they will have their gloss and sealing coat done and I shall only have some flocking to do over the coming week.
ALL TROOPS FOR THE EYLAU GAME ARE READY IN TIME FOR PLAYTEST #2!
I have also heard from my primary game associate for the EYLAU game and he was called away for work at 5 am on Saturday the 20th, and so was unable to warn me of his departure...then too bagged to call me about the sunday etc.
At least until today.
Anyway I have 'nabbed' his table and can finnaly have all the components to put together at the playtest on February 10th (only 2 weeks before the big show)!
Enjoy the pics, I will post another full set after they are in 'full regalia' with flags and flocking.
Cheers
The greatcoats and Guns are done!
At last the final French units and my first IMPERIAL GUARD infantry units are coming together.
By tomorrow night they will have their gloss and sealing coat done and I shall only have some flocking to do over the coming week.
ALL TROOPS FOR THE EYLAU GAME ARE READY IN TIME FOR PLAYTEST #2!
I have also heard from my primary game associate for the EYLAU game and he was called away for work at 5 am on Saturday the 20th, and so was unable to warn me of his departure...then too bagged to call me about the sunday etc.
At least until today.
Anyway I have 'nabbed' his table and can finnaly have all the components to put together at the playtest on February 10th (only 2 weeks before the big show)!
Enjoy the pics, I will post another full set after they are in 'full regalia' with flags and flocking.
Cheers
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Playtest #1
bleh.
I wish that I had known in advance that my supposed partner in the EYLAU game was not going to be able to take part.
To date I still have not heard from him.
I went over early on Saturday with my table and all of my terrain parts, so that we could set-up the two table combination for the first time. He was not at home, no note, no call, no indication of what had happened or why he was unavailable.
So I dragged by materials back home.
I busied myself with the layout of the French Grand Armee, so that I could confirm that I had enough minis (the 'green gaps' you see in the picture are for the troops still under production). Hoping that my partner would call to inform me that I could come over or at least what was going on.
What did come was a call to get more firewood. (which we needed)
I set aside all the minis and materials for the next 5 hours and humped wood, splitting some and stacking it for use this week.
Returning to the table after dinner I was able to set out the map completely and got some troops onto it for the first series of some photos.
I have been working on the 'snow' imagery concepts, I am interested what viewers here think of the first attempt at scale and if you have ever done snow scenes before, what worked for you?
Sunday was an attempt to have a 'new' player veiw the materials and comment, sadly this person was also not able to attend.
So I busied the day with the 'labels' for the unit tags. I had planned on using 'sticky' printer paper, but remembered that I had 'magnetic' printer paper!
LONG LIVE MAGNETICS!
So I have printed out and attached to the metal unit and command tags a magnetic ID.
Cheers
bleh.
I wish that I had known in advance that my supposed partner in the EYLAU game was not going to be able to take part.
To date I still have not heard from him.
I went over early on Saturday with my table and all of my terrain parts, so that we could set-up the two table combination for the first time. He was not at home, no note, no call, no indication of what had happened or why he was unavailable.
So I dragged by materials back home.
I busied myself with the layout of the French Grand Armee, so that I could confirm that I had enough minis (the 'green gaps' you see in the picture are for the troops still under production). Hoping that my partner would call to inform me that I could come over or at least what was going on.
What did come was a call to get more firewood. (which we needed)
I set aside all the minis and materials for the next 5 hours and humped wood, splitting some and stacking it for use this week.
Returning to the table after dinner I was able to set out the map completely and got some troops onto it for the first series of some photos.
I have been working on the 'snow' imagery concepts, I am interested what viewers here think of the first attempt at scale and if you have ever done snow scenes before, what worked for you?
Sunday was an attempt to have a 'new' player veiw the materials and comment, sadly this person was also not able to attend.
So I busied the day with the 'labels' for the unit tags. I had planned on using 'sticky' printer paper, but remembered that I had 'magnetic' printer paper!
LONG LIVE MAGNETICS!
So I have printed out and attached to the metal unit and command tags a magnetic ID.
Cheers
Painting Progress
A two session update.
I have had opportunity to paint a couple of times since last posting and have the block colors and mid-tones all done.
I settled on doing the 4 greatcoat units as blue, green, black and brown. They will all have white trousers and belts when done, so that they will serve mostly as French, but as planned they will all have 4 different flag bearers.
Enjoy the progress shots.
A two session update.
I have had opportunity to paint a couple of times since last posting and have the block colors and mid-tones all done.
I settled on doing the 4 greatcoat units as blue, green, black and brown. They will all have white trousers and belts when done, so that they will serve mostly as French, but as planned they will all have 4 different flag bearers.
Enjoy the progress shots.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Cards in-progress,
With 'daddy daycare' continuing to get in the way of painting, I can at least work on my computer & therefore get some of the support materials for the coming EYLAU game done.
I have designed a new card back, since the Russians were not part of the original Eagles game by Columbia Games (where I borrowed the format for the card backs from).
Along the way I have also been working on the card faces as well, in this example an image of Levin Bennigsen has been used. While it was a painting of the Russian general made later in life, it works well in the game context.
Other cards are still being designed, but since I have a few moments while my baby son is sleeping on my chest I thought I could post these.
Painting operations have been done on the minis, but only up to blocking colors, so I will not have all troops ready for the first playtest...sigh.
With 'daddy daycare' continuing to get in the way of painting, I can at least work on my computer & therefore get some of the support materials for the coming EYLAU game done.
I have designed a new card back, since the Russians were not part of the original Eagles game by Columbia Games (where I borrowed the format for the card backs from).
Along the way I have also been working on the card faces as well, in this example an image of Levin Bennigsen has been used. While it was a painting of the Russian general made later in life, it works well in the game context.
Other cards are still being designed, but since I have a few moments while my baby son is sleeping on my chest I thought I could post these.
Painting operations have been done on the minis, but only up to blocking colors, so I will not have all troops ready for the first playtest...sigh.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Friday, January 12, 2007
Greatcoat Collection
The last group to be painted in time for the coming EYLAU game.
This one contains 4 formations of greatcoat wearing troops in bicornes. I have put them together with 4 flag bearers (some scavenged from broken bits) with the idea that I can paint up the unit, then have 4 different flags, so that I can use the unit as Russian (the actual casting), French (they also had some bicorne troops early in the period and the 'middle guard' wore them as part of relaxed dress), Austrian (also part of a 'relax dress' and some of the German minor nations within the Holy Roman Empire), Spanish or Portugese (some units were really wildly dressed!). I can also use them as British (again very early in the period) since the uniforms for the Russians were acrually supplied by the Brits.
Also being done now are some line grenadiers in greatcoats. I shall be painting them as though they were "Imperial Guard" Grenadiers and Chasseurs; THE OLD GUARD.
Along with the line troops are another 8 batteries of heavy artillery, with their gunners. I am also painting up more Horse Gunners, so that I can properly man the Horse Artillery that I already have.
You can also see the side of a church that needs its steeple completed so that I can paint it as well.
I shall have some more pics of the church later.
Cheers
The last group to be painted in time for the coming EYLAU game.
This one contains 4 formations of greatcoat wearing troops in bicornes. I have put them together with 4 flag bearers (some scavenged from broken bits) with the idea that I can paint up the unit, then have 4 different flags, so that I can use the unit as Russian (the actual casting), French (they also had some bicorne troops early in the period and the 'middle guard' wore them as part of relaxed dress), Austrian (also part of a 'relax dress' and some of the German minor nations within the Holy Roman Empire), Spanish or Portugese (some units were really wildly dressed!). I can also use them as British (again very early in the period) since the uniforms for the Russians were acrually supplied by the Brits.
Also being done now are some line grenadiers in greatcoats. I shall be painting them as though they were "Imperial Guard" Grenadiers and Chasseurs; THE OLD GUARD.
Along with the line troops are another 8 batteries of heavy artillery, with their gunners. I am also painting up more Horse Gunners, so that I can properly man the Horse Artillery that I already have.
You can also see the side of a church that needs its steeple completed so that I can paint it as well.
I shall have some more pics of the church later.
Cheers
Final group images.
The flocking for this collection was done over the nights of the 10th and 11th.
I could have pushed and actually finished on the 10th, making the entire force being painted in exactly one month (DECEMBER no less!) from December 10th to January 11th.
I still like the way that Murat worked out, and the Chasseurs trumpeter was a treat to paint-up.
Enjoy the pics!
The flocking for this collection was done over the nights of the 10th and 11th.
I could have pushed and actually finished on the 10th, making the entire force being painted in exactly one month (DECEMBER no less!) from December 10th to January 11th.
I still like the way that Murat worked out, and the Chasseurs trumpeter was a treat to paint-up.
Enjoy the pics!
Monday, January 08, 2007
Catching up more of the brushworks:
Friday was the 'big day', as I was able to concentrate for about 6 hours on the painting needs and finish all details of all the masses of cavalry, then do all the 'touch-ups' needed on the Marshals and the Russian Gunners.
After a final inspection, I was then able to 'glue' all riders to their mounts.
Saturday saw a shot at getting the gloss coat of minwax polyshades put on and with that done I only have the flocking to do!
Enjoy the pics of the finished brush actions taken at 3 am Saturday morning!
Friday was the 'big day', as I was able to concentrate for about 6 hours on the painting needs and finish all details of all the masses of cavalry, then do all the 'touch-ups' needed on the Marshals and the Russian Gunners.
After a final inspection, I was then able to 'glue' all riders to their mounts.
Saturday saw a shot at getting the gloss coat of minwax polyshades put on and with that done I only have the flocking to do!
Enjoy the pics of the finished brush actions taken at 3 am Saturday morning!
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